These talented actors from our very own subcontinent have broken through the proverbial glass ceiling in international television shows and how!

Tom Haverford

Tom Haverford, born Darwish Sabir Ismael Gani is the uproarious TV show Parks and Recreation's most hilarious fictional character yet. Of course, we wouldn't expect anything less from comedian Aziz Ansari who essays the role. As a sarcastic, underachieving government official with abnormally high levels of 'swagger' he made his mark on the face of international television and his celebrity status has skyrocketed since.

Now he's the star and creator of the unbelievably hilarious sketch comedy show Human Giant as well. It only ran for two seasons but they're two seasons we'll never forget or hesitate to watch again and again! His parents were South Indian immigrants so despite having been born and raised in America, this man is definitely desi at his roots.

Apu Nahasapeemapetilons

Hey, he may be animated, but there's never been an Indian character as legendary as Apu from the Simpsons either. He's got every ridiculously stereotypical Indian character trait you can imagine. And as the proprietor of the Kwik-E-Mart, he is the funniest 'Indian Immigrant' characterization you'll ever see.

All in all, he's undoubtedly deserving of his place amidst the greats on this list even if he is entirely non-existent. 'Thank you, come again!'

Sendhil Ramamamurthy

Post playing a geneticist on massively successful NBC TV program Heroes Ramamurthy managed to break all stereotypes Indian actors in international television had been forced to face. There was far less typecasting, his role was of significant importance, and we mourned just as hard when he was killed off as any of the others.

People definitely sat up and took notice of his exemplary performance in the show and since then, he seems to be popping up in just about everything. From Covert Affairs to Shor In The City this talented, young Indian has made his mark on TV. All we can hope is that he's here to stay a while because he's got plenty of potential to make a big screen transition as well.

Rajesh Koothrapalli

This one's a no-brainer. Because if Kunal Nayyar's portrayal of this idiotic (but brilliant) astrophysicist is left out of this it would be entirely blasphemous. He too is a terribly typecast role but one you learn to love unflinchingly anyway.

Sure, he hates all things related to his Indian culture, has absolutely no saw whatsoever when it comes to talking to women and is utterly abysmal at social relations beyond his 'nerd circle' but he practically single-handedly got the whole world to fall in love with typically Indian traits and laugh with them.We'd even go so far as to christen him the most commercially popular of everyone on this list. Barring Apu perhaps but in this case, we will take the fact that he's a cartoon into account! Hey, it's called author's privilege.

Jonathan

Post 68 episodes with absolutely no mention of his ethnicity whatsoever, Jonathan (played by Maulik Pancholy) was finally outed as an Indian in 30 Rock's more recent season! Which leaves us thrilled to bits because we'd always suspected it and it means we can include Jack Donaghy's fawning (and seriously funny) assistant on this list.

Incidentally, he's had his fair share of TV work prior to this as well making guess appearances in hugely successful shows like The Sporanos, Law & Order: Criminal Intent and The Comeback.